Articles
SINGAPORE IS COMMITTED TO COMBATING THE ILLICIT TOBACCO TRADE
26 February 2026
On 19 February 2026, the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and the Brisbane Times carried an article titled "The inside story of how Australia became one of the most lucrative illicit tobacco markets in the world". Appended below is the Singapore High Commission's response to the article.
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We refer to the article dated 19 February 2026 in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and Brisbane Times: “The inside story of how Australia became one of the most lucrative illicit tobacco markets in the world”. The article mischaracterises Singapore’s approach to illicit tobacco transhipment.
Singapore takes the integrity of our ports and free trade zones (FTZ) seriously. Singapore Customs cooperates closely with international counterparts, including the Australian Border Force (ABF), to detect and act against illicit goods and transhipments, in accordance with our regulatory framework. Illicit tobacco is a complex, transnational issue that requires coordinated action across multiple jurisdictions.
In 2025 alone, intelligence from Singapore Customs led to 15 successful ABF seizures involving 58.9 million sticks of cigarettes; Singapore Customs also seized three million sticks of cigarettes in an FTZ that were allegedly bound for Australia. These outcomes underscore our commitment to combating illicit trade.
Singapore remains committed to sustained international cooperation and will continue to play our part in this collective responsibility.
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ANIL NAYAR
SINGAPORE HIGH COMMISSIONER TO AUSTRALIA